The United States of America is the land of the free and the brave. It is a country that unites people of all different backgrounds, religious beliefs and nationalities; a country that embodies the spirit of all of its citizens, as evidenced by our actions and reactions when we are face with challenges that touch human lives both at home and abroad.

I am proud to be an American, because Americans are people who care about other people.

America produces heroes and super-heroes, America also produces men and women in our armed forces who sacrifice their lives daily for the protection or our freedom.

This holiday season brought with it a bittersweet a disheartening statistic: 130,000 to 200,000 veterans, most of whom fought in wars, are now homeless in the United States of America. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given day. These veterans are the men and women who have fought in World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and South America. They left home believing that they would return to their country to continue their lives as productive men and women in their states, towns and cities. Instead many return home with missing limbs, mental problems traumatic stress disorder and even traumatic brain injury. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, women veterans are more likely to suffer from traumatic brain injury and traumatic stress disorder and are also more likely to become homeless.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says the nations homeless veterans are mostly females. The web site Oldtimer Speaks Out states that forty-five percent of veterans suffer from mental illness and seventy-three percent of veterans suffer from alcohol and substance abuse.

The lack of love of our family and friends can be devastating for any human being, yet some of our veterans have not just suffered the lost of family and friends, they have to also live with the images and memories of the gruesome sights of war. This article is written just to bring about public awareness of the desperate situation that some of our veterans have found themselves in after fighting for our freedom. If you have a friend or a family member who is suffering from their tour of duty, reach out to them, and see how you could help to bring that person back to society.

Remember, cancer and heart disease are no different from traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or mental illness. Our veterans did not deliberately seek out these illness, they were freedom fighters who encountered situations that led to diagnosis of some of the above stated illness. The risks that they have taken have allowed all Americans the freedom to be who they want to be.

Every-time we raise a glass to toast our success and our freedom lets make the last toast be for the men and women who have given us the real freedom we enjoy. Make one of your New Years resolutions for the year 2011 to reach out to a true veteran and to lend a helping hand. Search the internet for organizations and groups who legitimately helps our veterans, and then give as much as you can.

If each one of us would give a little I am sure we could help a lot of our brave men and women to find their way back home.

Let us all make the year 2011 the year that we all reach out and help a homeless veteran to find a permanent home.

Let’s make the month of January 2011 a Salute to Veterans Month.

Acknowledge a veteran by saying Thank You every time you come face to face with a vet.

I would like to thank you to Beth Hambleton Sr. Program & Government Relations Liaison of Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center for her dedication and contribution to the veterans of America.

To all my readers please have a safe and happy New Year.